life's reverses.
37
A happy an' cheerfu' assembly are they,
Yet at times they grow thouchtfu' an' almaist look wae,
For as dashes the hail, an' strong boughs writhe an' crack,
The nicht o' their misery comes vividly back,
An' aye as the tempest's loud shriek rushes past,
A shudderin' gaze to the window is cast;
Then hopin' that none were exposed to that snaw,
Their seats nigh the glowin' hearth thankfu' they draw,
An' recounted their poortith in seasons lang gane,
An' the wearisome tramp to Miss Clara then ta'en.
"Ah! Tammy," said Jess, her dark een brimmin' o'er,
"How little we kenn'd o' the blessings in store?
Or that you would yet own and dwell in the ha'
Frae whase doors we turn'd shivrin' and weepin' awa?"
Tam's bonnie wee wifie's face crimson'd became,
An' she 'maist poured invectives on proud Clara's name:
"I'll no ca' her strumpet or tyrant," said she,
"But I hope sic a heartless ane never to see."
"My children," exclaimed Mrs Lee wi' a sigh,
"That nicht was allotted to purge an' to try;
To gie us experience in hunger an' grief,
That our means micht be used to yield others relief;
An' as to the leddie, I grieve to hear tell,
Sin' the death o' her mither, she suffers hersel'.
Sae whisper'd the agent when roupin' the ha',
Wi' its furnishin's, braid lands, an' chattels an' a';
An' hoo my heart loup'd when Tam owner became!
No wi' pride that his ain's this magnificent hame,
Yet at times they grow thouchtfu' an' almaist look wae,
For as dashes the hail, an' strong boughs writhe an' crack,
The nicht o' their misery comes vividly back,
An' aye as the tempest's loud shriek rushes past,
A shudderin' gaze to the window is cast;
Then hopin' that none were exposed to that snaw,
Their seats nigh the glowin' hearth thankfu' they draw,
An' recounted their poortith in seasons lang gane,
An' the wearisome tramp to Miss Clara then ta'en.
"Ah! Tammy," said Jess, her dark een brimmin' o'er,
"How little we kenn'd o' the blessings in store?
Or that you would yet own and dwell in the ha'
Frae whase doors we turn'd shivrin' and weepin' awa?"
Tam's bonnie wee wifie's face crimson'd became,
An' she 'maist poured invectives on proud Clara's name:
"I'll no ca' her strumpet or tyrant," said she,
"But I hope sic a heartless ane never to see."
"My children," exclaimed Mrs Lee wi' a sigh,
"That nicht was allotted to purge an' to try;
To gie us experience in hunger an' grief,
That our means micht be used to yield others relief;
An' as to the leddie, I grieve to hear tell,
Sin' the death o' her mither, she suffers hersel'.
Sae whisper'd the agent when roupin' the ha',
Wi' its furnishin's, braid lands, an' chattels an' a';
An' hoo my heart loup'd when Tam owner became!
No wi' pride that his ain's this magnificent hame,
